Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1887-11-26
ONE in here. We will be alone

until my uncle returns"
W The invitation and assur
y ance sprang melodiously
~ from what Harry Ring
gold-to whom they
were addressed
deemed the loveliest
lips in Caracas, those
of charming Solita
Campos, the niece and adopted daughter
of his employer, Senior Pablo Campos,
who was one of the most prominent
merchants and bankers of Venezuela.
Harry was an American, fine-looking,
good-hearted and clear-headed young
fellow, who had gone to the tropics to
seek his fortune, but to whom the best
fortune attainable now seemed winning
the love of Solita She was exceedingly
beautiful; a brunette with the very
large, liquid, lustrous eyes that are the
most commonly distinguishing charm
of Venezuelan girls. Her figure was
simply perfect, though petite and just
past the turning poirt from girlhood to
womanhood; her nature ardent, fond
andingenuous. She had fallen in love with
the handsome young American the first
time that she saw him, but she knew, as
he did, that her uncle would not be likely
to favor their union, and care had
always been taken by them to keep from
him all knowledge of their intimacy.
Harry might not, like other gallants,
stand for hours at the bars of her par
lor windows chattering nonsense to
her by the light of the moon, or flutter
about her when she went with her uncle to
the plaza to hear the band in the evening;
or do any conspicuous languishing in her
sight when she went, under the same
escort, to the Calvario for Sunday
afternoon stroll. But they managed
to meet often nevertheless, for "where
there's a will there's a way" and
an enterprising young American may
be trusted to find the way if anybody
can.
Turning back into her boudoir adioin-
ing the parlor, Solita retook her place
before the mirror, where, while putting
the finishing touches to her luxuriant
tresses which she had just arranged, she
could see her lovers reflection as he
passed the portiere and silently seated
himself on the sofa, looking at her
gloomily.
"Why are you so silent to-day?" she
asked him.
81 have just seen your uncle"
"Well, you see him every day."
"But he does not every day tell me
what he has told me this day."
"Ah And what has he told you ?"
"In the first place, he wishes me to go
the day after tomorrow to Maracaibo on
business, to be gone three or four months.
He would start me tomorrow but for
the dinner"
"Ahl The Thanksgiving dinner after
the fashion of your country that you
have suggested"
Eyes; afine Thanksgiving shall have,
with that in view"
"Is it a good business opportunity
that he proposes for your"
Yes; believe so, but that is not the
question. believe that he is medi-
tating something very bad for me-"
Nonsense Harry. He is only thinking
of your good"
Perhaps you have suggested this
good thing for me. Indeed, | half in
ferred it from the way he spoke"
81! Not at all. You know very we'll
do not dare to mention your name to
him except in the most indifferent way
possible"
"Still, there are extraordinary cir
cumstances at this time"
Indeed! What are they?"
HE proposes that you shall get mar
ried"
The girl started, and for moment re-
NAMED silent, seeming to busy herself
with placing a flower in her hair. Then
she laughed, but, as it seemed to him,
with an effort.
80? That is it Ha, ha! Oh, Pm
sure you must be very ill to-day to have
such fancies. Yes, you are feverish. You
need air"
With a playful air of ridicule she
caught up fan and agitated it rapidly
before him so that its feathery fringe
tickled his nose. He snatched il
from her and threw it to the further
end of the room. 1t flew like a bird
with outspread wings.
"What way to treat my thingsr'
she exclaimed, springing lightly after it
and picking it up. Closing it and HOLDING
it like dagger, she advanced upon him
threw herself into a menacing attitud'
and brandisbing it said dramatically
Beware my vengeancep
He could not but look with pleasure
upon her 1.-the, charming figure, her
graceful movements and her playfulness,
but his thoughts were too serious for him
to be distracted from his purpose of an
explanation with her. She could not even
win responsive smile from him. Sud-
denly she threw down the fan, sprang to
him and twining her arms about his
neck laughingly repeated, again and
again: ''Pm to be married married
married p seemingly abandoning her.
self to her exuberance of spirits. He
gently compelled her to seat herself be-
side him and said gravely: